Interlocked structural assemblies and stiffeners therefor



July 25, 1967 J. L. HINKLE 3,332,197

INTERLOCKED STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES AND STIFFENERS THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMES L. H'INKLE BY M ATTORNEY 'J. L. HINKLE July 25, 1967 INTERLIOCK'ED STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES AND STIFFENEHS THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES L. HINKLE ATTORNEY INTERLOCKED STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES AND STIFFENERS THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1964 J. L. HINKLE July 25, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 RRRRRWR INVEN TOR JAMES L. HINKLE ATTORNEY 1967 J. L. HINKLE 3,332,197

INTERLOCKED STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES AND STIFF'ENERS THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JAMES L. HINKLE BY WW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,332,197 INTERLOCKED STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES AND STIFFENERS THEREFOR James L. Hinkle, 407 N. Washington Ave, P.0. Box 2002, Roswell, N. Mex. 88201 Filed June 36, 1964, Ser. No. 379,240 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-731) skilled labor.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one of the basic structural components of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view showing two of the components of FIGURE 1 assembled;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing another component;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are isometric views of other component-s which may be used with the component of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are isometric views showing the respective components of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 assembled with the component of FIG. 3;

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of another component;

FIGURE 11 is an isometric view of the component of FIG. 10 in assembly with the component of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of another component;

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional detail of the component of FIG. 12 with the component of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 14 is an isometric view of a connector;

FIGURE 15 is a view of two components of FIG. 1 assembled at right angles by connectormeans including the connector of FIG. 14;

FIGURE 16 is a view of two components of FIG. 1 assembled at right angles by modified connector means;

FIGURE 17 is an isometric view of another connector;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary view showing two of the components of FIG. 1 assembled by the connector of FIG. 17;

FIGURE 19 is an elevational view of the components as in FIG. 2 with a stiffener member applied thereto;

FIGURE 20 is an isometric view of another form of stiffener;

FIGURE 21 is a view of the components as in FIG. 2 but with the stifieners of FIG. 20;

FIGURE 22 is an isometric view showing a modification of the component of FIG. 1; 7

FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary view of the components of FIG. 2 spaced apart and joined by a spacing connector; and

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary group isometric view of the components of FIG. 2 formed integrally with sheet material stock.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, one of the basic structural components of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The component 10 has a channel-like form and is integrally fabricated, for example, as by extrusion. The component comprises an elongated web 11 with first and second flanges 12, 13, respectively, projecting laterally from longitudinal edges of the web to the same side thereof and open in the direction of the other side of the web, as will be clearly apparent. The flange 12 is provided with a relatively wide extension rail 14 disposed at said other side of the web in coplanar relation with the interior of the flange 12, and the rail is formed with a longitudinal groove 15, preferably of a -shaped cross-section. The flange 13 is provided with a relatively narrow extension rail 16, also disposed at said other side of the Web and in coplanar relation with the outer wall of the flange 13, the rail 16 terminating in a longitudinally extending, angular lip 17.

Two of the components 10 of FIGURE 1 may be assembled in juxtaposed relation as shown in FIGURE 2, one component being inverted relative to the other so that the wide rail 14 of each component is inserted in the flange 13 of the other component and the lip 17 of each component is seated in the groove 15 of the other. The two components may be assembled by longitudinal sliding or telescoping thereof, or they may be pressed into each other laterally with a snap action, it being understood that the material of the components is inherently resilient to a sufficient extent to make such snap action assembly possible. It may be noted that when assembled as in FIG. 2, the two components effectively constitute a hollow I-beam, to which suitable sheeting or covering panels (not shown) may be applied to form a floor, a wall, or the like.

A modified component 20 is shown in FIG. 3 which may be used selectively with the components 21, 22 and 23 of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The component 20 includes the web 11 with two identical flanges 13 and lips 17. The component 21 also includes the Web 11, without flanges but with laterally projecting rails 14 provided with grooves 15. When the components 20, 21 are assembled as in FIG. 7, the rails 14 are inserted in the flanges -13 and the lips 17 are seated in the grooves 15.

The component 22 includes the web 11 with a pair of laterally projecting rails 24 and bevelled shoulders 25 at the junction of the rails with the web. When assembled as in FIG. 8, the rails 24 of the component 22 are inserted in the flanges 13 of the component 20 and the lips 17 are seated against the shoulders 25 of the Web.

The component 23 includes the web 11 with identical flanges 12 and extension rails 14 formed with the grooves 15. When assembled as in FIG. 9, the rails 14 of the component 23 are inserted in the flanges 13 of the component 20 and the lips 17 are seated in the grooves 15.

FIGURE 10 shows another component 26 having a web 11 provided at one longitudinal edge with the flange 13 and lip 17, while its other longitudinal edge is formed with the rail 14 and groove 15. The component 26 may be assembled with the component 10 as in FIG. 11, wherein the rail 14 of the component 10 is inserted in the flange 13 of the component 26, the rail 14 of the component 26 is inserted in the flange 13 of the component 10, and the lips 17 are seated in the grooves 15.

The assemblies of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be used as door jambs, window frames, and the like, or as frame edgings of structural panels. As shown in FIG. 13, the component 10 may be employed as a base runner in conjunction with a compression channel 27 illustrated in FIG. 12, the compression channel underlying the web 11 of the component 10 and both being secured to a floor or foundation 28 by suitable studs 29.

FIGURE 15 illustrates two of the components 10 disposed so that their webs 11 are at right angles and the lips 17 of their flanges 13 are in abutment. The flanges 13 may be held in assembled relation by a connector 30 shown in FIG. 14, the connector having a pair of right angularly disposed wings 31 with a U-shaped center portion 32 joining the same. The connector wings 31 are inserted in the flanges 13 and the lips 17 are received in the connector portion 32, as will be apparent. The connector 30 may be elongated and coextensive with the components 10, or it may have a narrow, clip-like form for application to the components 10 at longitudinally spaced intervals. If desired, the flanges 12 of the components 10 may be connected together by the connector means 33 consisting of a right angled member 34 and a diagonal portion 35 with inturned ends 36 which are welded to the member 34 and coact therewith to provide channels or sockets 37 for reception of the rails 14. Lips 38 are provided at the sockets for seating into the grooves 15.

FIGURE 16 shows another arrangement for assembling two components 10 at right angles, the same including substantially rectangular connector means 39 provided at two adjacent corners thereof with sockets 37 to receive the rails 14 as shown. An angular wing 40 is provided at one of the sockets 37 and a similar wing 41 is provided on the third corner of the means 39, the wings 40, 41 being disposed at right angles and inserted in the flanges 13 of the components 10.

FIGURE 17 shows another connector 42, either in the form of a clip or of random length, which may be used for assembling two components 10 at right angles as in FIG. 18. The connector 42 has a pair of right angnlarly disposed wings 43, 44 which are insertable in the flanges 12, 13, respectively, of the components 10. The wings 43, 44 are joined by a socket portion 45 which receives the rail 14 of the flange 12, the portion of the socket adjacent the wing 43 being offset as at 46 to accommodate the grooved region 15 of the rail 14 as well as the lip 17 of the flange 13.

FIGURE 19 shows the component assembly of FIG. 2 with a diagonal stiffener member 50 interposed between the webs 11 and having angulated side portions 51 inserted in the flanges 12 to reinforce the assembly and enable it to bear greater loads. A modified stiflener arrangement is shown in FIGURE 21 wherein two stiflener members 52 are utilized, one of such members being illustrated in FIG. 20. Each member 52 has a body portion 53 formed intermediate its ends with an integral, laterally projecting rib 54, one end region of the body portion 53 being angulated as at 55 and terminating in a wing 56. The two stiffener members 52 are disposed in mutually inverted positions between the components 10 so that the body portion 53 of each stiffener contacts the web 11 of one of the components and the wing 56 is inserted in the flange 12 of the other component, while the ribs 54 of the stiffeners are in abutment.

FIGURE 22 illustrates a modified embodiment of the component 10, designated as 10a, wherein for purposes of reinforcement the web 11a is formed with one or more longitudinal stiflening ribs 55.

In FIG. '23, two components 10 are shown in transversely spaced relation and joined together by a connector strap or plate 56. One end portion 57 of the connector 56 is inserted in the flange 13 of one of the components 10 and provided with a groove 58 to seat the lip 17. The other end of the connector 56 is equipped with a channel or socket 37 to receive the rail 14 of the other component 10, and a lip 59 is provided at the socket 37 to seat in the groove 15 of the rail 14.

The various components of the invention may be formed separately and covered with suitable panels when assembled, or they may be formed integrally at edges of sheet material stock, as exemplified in FIGURE 24. In such event, an edge of the sheet 60 may be formed to provide the component 10 with the sheet overlying the flange 12 and constituting a reversely bent continuation of the rail 14. Similarly, the sheet 60 may overlie the flange 13 and constitute a reversely bent continuation of the lip 17.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, lying within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a structural assembly, a pair of basic channellike components each integrally formed and comprising an elongated web, first and second flanges of a U-shaped cross-section projecting laterally from longitudinal edges of the web to the same side thereof, each of said flanges defining a relatively narrow slot open in the direction of the other side of the web, a relatively wide extension rail provided on the first of said flanges at said other side of the web in coplanar relation with the slot of the first flange, said extension rail being formed with a longitudinal groove, a relatively narrow extension rail provided on the second of said flanges at said other side of the web in coplanar relation wit-h the outer wall of the second flange, a longitudinal lip provided on said narrow extension rail, said pair of components being resiliently flexible and juxtaposed in mutually inverted relation with the wide rail of each component inserted in the slot of the second flange of the other component and the lip of each component snap-fittingly seated in the groove of the other component and a pair of stiffener members disposed in mutually inverted relation between the webs of the assembled components in contact with the respective webs, the stifiener member in contact with the web of each component having an angulated side portion inserted in the slots of the first flange of the other component, and laterally projecting ribs provided on said stiffener members in abutment with each other.

2. In a structural assembly, a resiliently yieldable first component integrally formed and comprising a web, a flange of a U-shaped cross-section projecting laterally from one longitudinal edge of the web to one side thereof, said flange defining a relatively narrow slot open in the direction of the other side of the web, a relatively narrow extension rail provided on said flange at said other side of the web, a longitudinal lip provided on said narrow rail, a resiliently yieldable second component spaced transversely from said first component, said second component being integrally formed and comprising a web, a flange of a U-shaped cross section projecting laterally from one longitudinal edge of the last mentioned web to one side thereof, said last mentioned flange defining a relatively narrow slot open in the direction of the other side, a relatively wide extension rail provided on the last mentioned flange at said other side of the last mentioned web, said wide rail being formed with a longitudinal groove, and a connector for assembling the first and second components together in transversely spaced relation, said connector having one side portion thereof inserted in the slot of the flange of the first component and formed with a groove snap-fittingly receiving said lip, a channel provided on the other side of said connector and having 5 6 the Wide rail of the second component inserted therein, 2,508,032 5/1950 Kennedy 52-731 and a lip provided on said channel and snap-fittingly seated 2,975,874 3/ 1961 Pagan 52731 X in the groove of the second component. 3,002,591 10/ 1961 Hess 18936 X 3,224,154 12/1965 Foti et a1 52731 X References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS FQREIGN PATENTS 770,164 3/1957 Great Britain. 1 1 776,452 6/1957 Great Britain. 5,3333; F353 10 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 8/1944 Garbe 52-731 X M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY, A PAIR OF BASIC CHANNELLIKE COMPONENTS EACH INTEGRALLY FORMED AND COMPRISING AN ELONGATED WEB, FIRST AND SECOND FLANGES OF A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE WEB TO THE SAME SIDE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID FLANGES DEFINING A RELATIVELY NARROW SLOT OPEN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WEB, A RELATIVELY WIDE EXTENSION RAIL PROVIDED ON THE FIRST OF SAID FLANGES AT SAID OTHER SIDE OF THE WEB IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH THE SLOT OF THE FIRST FLANGE, SAID EXTENSION RAIL BEING FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE, A RELATIVELY NARROW EXTENSION RAIL PROVIDED ON THE SECOND OF SAID FLANGES AT SAID OTHER SIDE OF THE WEB IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH THE OUTER WALL OF THE SECOND FLANGE, A LONGITUDINAL LIP PROVIDED ON SAID NARROW EXTENSION RAIL, SAID PAIR OF COMPONENTS BEING RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE AND JUXTAPOSED IN MUTUALLY INVERTED RELATION WITH THE WIDE RAIL OF EACH COMPONENT INSERTED IN THE SLOT OF THE SECOND FLANGE OF THE OTHER COMPONENT AND THE LIP OF EACH COMPONENT SNAP-FITTINGLY SEATED IN THE GROOVE OF THE 